6 Rhodora [JANUARY 
II. THE ASSUMED HYBRIDIZATION OF EPILOBIUM ANGUSTI- 
FOLIUM AND E. LATIFOLIUM. 
In 1916, Dr. C. C. Forsaith, writing upon Epilobium angustifolium 
and E. latifolium, stated that “when E. angustifolium grows within 
the range of its nearest ally [in North America EF. latifolium], crosses 
take place which result in hybrid offspring. This relation is strikingly 
evident from the morphological standpoint at least, when one takes 
into account the presence of defective microspores in specimens 
chosen from that part of its habitat coterminous [coincident?] with 
that of E. latifolium. In contrast to this condition there is the more 
constant development of the pollen in buds selected from the more 
southern stations where E. angustifolium is practically monotypic.” ! 
Dr. Forsaith reinforces his argument by the citation of specimens 
in the Gray Herbarium which had been freely placed at his disposal, 
indicating by an asterisk those in which he found the pollen defective; 
he also publishes a map purporting to show the distribution of F. 
angustifolium and E. latifolium, indicating in solid black the areas 
where he believes the two species are coexistent. Lest readers of his 
article should be led by Dr. Forsaith’s courteous reference to mem- 
bers of the staff of the Gray Herbarium (p. 485) to suppose that 
they indorse the conclusion above quoted, it becomes unfortunately 
necessary to point out certain facts which might have been detected 
by Dr. Forsaith himself if he had critically checked his data before 
publication. The more discerning reader, naturally, will be led to 
accept with extreme caution the conclusions of a student ‘writing 
upon geographic distribution who locates Hamilton Inlet in Greenland 
(p. 477) and the Selkirk Mountains at 118° 20’ north longitude (p. 477). 
Incidentally, if one examines Piper’s Flora of the State of Washington 
he will find that EZ. latifolium occurs in Washington only as an arctic- 
alpine plant and is unknown from the coast, yet Forsaith lists Æ. lati- 
folium with imperfect pollen as represented in the Gray Herbarium 
from Seattle! The present writer is unable to find any voucher for 
this statement unless it be a sheet collected by E. C. Smith at 6000 ft. 
on Mt. Rainier and sent out with the label of the Young Naturalists’ - 
Society, SEATTLE. 
These, of course, are merely clerical errors and, while showing great 
1 Forsaith, Bot. Gaz. lxii. 475 (1916). 
